Portable electric lantern with writing pad attachment



Oct. 31, 1950 R. BoTENsTEN 2,528,416

PORTABLE ELECTRIC LANTERN WITH WRITING PAD ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. l,1947` 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ROY L. BOTE/vsrf/v i Oct. 3l, 1950 R. L.BOTENSTEN PORTABLE ELECTRIC LANTERN WITH WRITING PAD ATTACHMENT 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. l, 1947 z-zzE/.z-Tyzr ROY L. BOTENsTf/vPatented Oct. 31, 1950 OFFICE PORTABLE ELECTRIC LANTERN WITH WRITING PADATTACHMENT Roy L. BotenstemChicago, Ill.

Application August 1, 1 947,.Serial No. 765,287

61Claims. 1

This invention relates to a portable electric lantern equipped with anilluminated writing pad.

Specifically, the invention deals with a railroad lantern carrying aholder for a railroad switch list enabling a brakeman to copyinformation from freight oars directly onto the switch list whileilluminating both the list and the portion of the freight car containingthe information.

Electric lanterns for railroad brakemen lare fairly well standardizedand include a metal battery case, a guard projecting from one end of thecase, a reflector mounted on the case within the guard, and a pair oflamps projecting beyond the reflector and adapted for selectiveenergization by the battery when moved to the center of the reflector.

In accordance with this invention, the battery case receives a flat padarranged to detachably support Writing paper, such as switch lists. Anelectric lamp is provided either 'on the pad or on the .body of the,lantern for illuminating the switch list. This lamp is selectivelyenergized through its own separate switch from the main battery ofthelantern. A combination guard and reflector is preferably provided toprotect the pad-illuminating lamp.

The pad is preferably detachably mounted on the lantern.. In oneembodiment of the invention, the pad-illuminating lamp is removable withthe pad, while in another embodiment of the invention the-lamp ismounted on the main body of the lantern.

. The devices of this invention permit focusing of the lantern light onthe indicia marked on railroad cars while the lantern is held in thepalm of one hand so that the indicia is conveniently copied `on theilluminated list carried by the pad. In switching railroad cars at nighta slight flick of the thumb or finger illuminates the switch list forsplit-second checking of classification or destination of cars.

It is, then, an object of the present invention to provide a record-typelantern having an illuminated pad or bed for'detachably supportingWriting paper and having a lamp for illuminating objects containingindicia to be marked on the writing paper'. K

A still further object of the invention is to provide a writing padattachment for railroad lanterns.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from the following detailed description of theannexed sheets `of drawings which, by way of preferred examples only,illustrate two embodiments of the invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a railroad lantern equipped witha writing pad according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectionalView, with parts in side elevation, taken along the line II-II of Figure1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse crosssectional view takensubstantially along the line III-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modied form ofpad-equipped lantern according to this invention.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view takenalong the line V-V of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary transverse cross-sectional view taken alongthe line VI-VI of Figure 4.

As shown on the drawings:

'In the first form of the invention, shown in Figures 1 to 3, thereference numeral I0 designates generally a railroad lantern having anelongated, flat-sided battery casing II preferably substantially squarein cross section. It should be understood, however, that the batterycasing can have any desired coniiguration. Thus, a casing circular oroval in cross section can be used if desired. The rear end of the casingII is closed by a cap I2. The front end of the casing II is closed by acircular end plate I3 having an upstanding circular flange I 3a and anoutturned end flange I3b. As shown in Figure 2, the plate I3 projectsbeyond the iiat side walls of the casing I I to form shoulders ISC.

Brackets I 4 are affixed to opposed flat side walls of the casing I Iand support U-shaped leg members l5 having the legs projecting forwardlyfrom the end of the lantern to carry a guard ring I6 in spaced relationfrom the end of the lantern. As will be hereinafter described, thisguard ring protects the lamp bulbs of the lantern and forms a supportfor the lantern. The brackets I4 are mounted closely adjacent theshoulders |30.

A U-shaped handle I'I straddles the casing II and has the bight portionthereof spaced sufficiently from the casing so that the handle can beswung about the casing on pivots I8 provided on the side walls of thecasing I I.

The end plate I3 has a slot I9 in the central portion thereof closed bya strip of insulation material 20 which underlies the plate. A rubberdiaphragm seal 2l overlies the insulation strip 20 and is retained in anapertured metal cover 22 riveted to the plate at 23. A conductor post 24extends through the insulation 2G, the rubber diaphragm 2I, into theaperture in the plate 22 and a metal disk is riveted onto this post. Aspring 26 of conductor material overlies the post 24 and passes throughthe insulation 23 to be anchored on the post between the seal 2l and theinsulation 20.

A dry cell battery B is mounted in the casing I I and is bottomed on aclip 2l carried by the end cap I2. The battery is of the type having twoterminals projecting from one end thereof and includes a coil springterminal T1 and a leaf spring terminal Tz. The terminal T1 engages thepost 24. The terminal T2 engages the plate 22.

A reflector disk 23 is mounted on the end plate I3 and has a circularflange 23a snugly fitting within the flange I3a. Screws such as'23attach the reflector to the plate I3. The reflector 28 has a slot 28hacross the axial center thereof and a slide member 36 is mounted underthe reflector to bridge this slot. A pair of lamps 3l is carried c bythe slide member 36 and these lamps have Suitable contacts for engagingthe spring contactor 26 thereby completing a circuit for energizing thelamps. An actuator (not shown) is provided for shifting the slide member36 to selectively position each lamp into engagement with the spring 26.It will be noted that one lamp 3l is disposed at a higher level than theother lamp. These two levels are useful in giving a selective focusingof light.

In accordance with this invention a flat side face of the casing I Iadjacent a face carrying the brackets I4 and the handle pivots I3 iscovered with a pad 32. This pad 32 includes a at metal plate 33 somewhatwider and longer than the casing Il. The plate 33 has downturned flanges33a around the periphery thereof. Side strips 34 are mounted on the sideflanges 33a and have bottom legs 34a straddling the casing Il in closerelation to the side walls thereof adjacent the wall covered by theplate 33. The end edges of the bottom flanges 34a serve to hold the padagainst side movement.

The side strips 34 also have top flanges 34h overlying the side edges ofthe plate 33 in spaced relation to provide a groove 33.

An end strip 35 overlies the front end edge of the. plate 33 and isshaped to rest on the casing Il. A tongue 35a (Figure 2) projectsforwardly and upwardly from the strip 35 midway between the strips 34and is adapted to t into a slot 31 in the shoulder portion I3c of theplate I3.

The strip 35 also has a flange 35h mating with the flanges 34h of theside strips 34 to continue the groove 36 across the front end of theplate 33.

The rear end of the plate 33 carries, on its under face, a wall member38 which is secured to the adjacent flange 33a and has a flange 38aprojecting toward the end cap I2. As best shown in Figure 2 this end capI2 carries a spring 39 with a hook edge 39a, projecting beyond the coverto lock against the flange 38a. A button 4I) is secured on the spring 39and projects through a hole in the cover I2 so that the spring may bedepressed manually to the dotted line position for releasing the flange38a.

In order to mount the pad in position on the casing I I, the tongue 35ais inserted in the slot 3l and the rear end of the pad is then swungdownwardly to bring the flange 33a against the lip portion 39a. of thespring 39 whereupon the spring will automatically be depressed until theange rides under the lip, whereupon the spring will snap back to lockthe pad on the casing.

A sheet of paper such as a railroad switching list L is retained on theplate 33 in the grooves 36 and can be readily tted into the grooves fromthe rear end of the plate which, as shown in Figure 1, is not overlappedby a strip, If desired, a plurality of sheets can be mounted in stackedrelation on the pad 33 in the grooves 36 and will be retained therein byfriction.

The flange I3a of the end plate I3 has a lamp socket 4I mounted thereoninside of a reflector shield 42 also carried by the flange. As shown inFigure 1, the reflector shield 42 can be aiixed to the flange I3a byscrews or rivets 43 passed through flat ears on the sides of thereflector. The lamp socket 4I receives a lamp 44 in threaded relationtherein. The lamp is carried above the pad 32 and the reflector is soshaped as to direct light over the entire list L carried by the pad. Thelamp 44 is energized through a wire 45 from aswitch 46 mounted on thecasing I I. The switch, in turn, is energized from a wire 4l secured tothe contact spring 26. The switch 46 is conveniently operated with thethumb of the hand carrying the lantern by the handle' Il so that thelamp 44 can be conveniently turned on and off as desired.

The electric circuit to the lamp 44 is established by means of a wire 41which is energized from the battery, the switch 46, the wire 45, aninsulated ber plug 48 having a contact 43, the lamp 44, the metal socket4I, and the metal end plate I3.

In the embodiment Illa of the invention shown in Figures 4 to 6 the samelantern assembly is provided and identical parts have been marked withthe same reference numerals. In the embodiment I Ba, the pad arrangement32a is also generally similar to the pad 32 and identical parts havebeen marked with the same reference numerals. However, the pad 32acarries its own lamp, reflector, and switch.

Angle members 50 are secured to the side walls of the lantern casing IIadjacent the wall covered by the pad 32a. These angle members haveoutturned legs forming tracks for the flanges 34a of the side strips 34.The pad is mounted on the casing II by sliding it forward on the tracksprovided by the angle members until the flange 38a on the rear endmember 38 is locked under a spring 5I carried by the cover I2. Thisflange 33a preferably has an upturned tang 38h engaged by the spring asshown in Figure 5.

The forward end of the pad 32a is bottomed against the shoulder I3cafforded by the end plate I3 of the casing when the tang 3817 is lockedunder the spring 5I.

An insulated fiber lamp socket 52 is mounted on the pad 32a to receive alamp 53 overlying the list L on the pad. A wire 54 extends from thesocket to a switch 55 mounted on a side strip 34 of the pad. The switchcan be grounded on the casing or pad to complete an electrical circuitas hereinafter explained.

The pad also carries a reflector and lamp guard 56 overlying the socket52 and lamp 53. A prong 51 extends from the lamp socket rearwardlythrough the reflector in insulated relation therefrom and is seated in asocket 58 of an insulated post 59 mounted on the side flange I 3a of theend member I3. A wire El] connected to the contact member 26 is providedfor energizing the socket 58. Thus, current flows rfrom the positiveterminal T2 of the battery through the wire 6U to energize the socket 58which, in turn, energizes the prong 51 to energize the lamp 53. The lamp53 is then grounded through the wire 54 and switch 55 back to thelantern casing I I for completing the circuit.

Theprong 5l fits in the socket 58 with a relatively tight' friction gripso as to hold the pad against removal. Thus the prong coacts with thespring 5| in retaining the pad on the lantern casing. 1

From the above descriptions it will be understood that this inventionprovides a portable electric lantern with an illuminated writing padthat is detachable from the main body of the lantern casing and isselectively illuminated independent of the illumination of the lantern.The combined lantern and writing pad is especially useful to railroadworkers at night in connection with the switching of trains and cars.safety factor, since heretofore switch lists and the lantern requireduse of both hands, whereas the present unit requires use of one handonly, leavingI ther other free for throwing switches, holding carladders, etc.

It will, of course,be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a wide range without departing' from theprinciples of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose tolimit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scopeof the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A switchmans lantern comprising a casing having flat side walls, aremovable cap closing one end of said casing, a circular member closingthe other end of said casing and dening shoulders along said side walls,a reflector carried by said circular member, a slidable lamp supportbetween said reflector and said circular member arranged to be energizedby a battery in said casing, a lat pad overlying one side wall of thecasing and bottomed against one of said shoulders, said pad having sideflanges extending alongside of the adjacent side walls of said casingand in sliding guiding contact therewith and an end flange spacing'saidpad above Vsaid one side wall, means on said removable end cap of thecasing releasably engaging said pad to hold the pad in fixed relation onthe casing, and means for retaining the paper in flat writing positionon said pad.

2. A lantern comprising a casing having flat side walls, a pad overlyingone side wall of said casing and having side flanges straddling theadjacent side walls of the casing in close relation and an end flangespacing the pad from said one side wall, means for detachably mountingthe pad on the casing, a lamp socket carried by said pad, a switchcarried by said pad for energizing said socket, and separable electricmeans in the space between said pad and said casing for energizing thesocket from a battery in said casing.

3. A lantern comprising a battery casing, a shoulder at one end of saidcasing, a removable end cap at the other end of said casing, a flatplate overlying the side of said casing, side walls The unit affords theworker an added,

on said plate straddling said casing in close relation to hold the platein overlying relation to said side of the casing, tongue meansprojecting from said plate into said shoulder, and spring means coactingwith the other end of said plate for retaining the plate on the casingin detachflector, primary switch means accessible fromA the outside ofsaid casing for energizing the primary lamp from a battery in thecasing, a detachable writing pad tting over the side wall of the casing,a secondary lamp carried by said pad and arranged to illuminate the pad,a secondary switch on said pad in circuit relation with said secondarylamp, means for releasably locking the pad on the casing, and coactingelectric Contact means on the pad and casing for energizing thesecondary lamp from a battery in the casing.

6. A rwriting pad attachment for a railroad switchmans lantern of thetype having a battery casing with two primary lamps projecting from oneend wall of the casing and a guard ring carried by the casing in spacedrelation from said end to protect the primary lamps, said pad beingconstructed and arranged to t over a side wall of the battery casing inrm engagement therewith and having a flat top writing surface, asecondary lamp guard mounted on one end of said pad, a secondary lampmounted on said pad under said guard for illuminating the pad, a switchon said pad in circuit relation with said secondary lamp, and electriccontact means on said pad for coacting with contact means on the batterycasing to energize the secondary lamp from the same battery in thecasing used to energize the primary lamps.

ROY L. BOTENSTEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,145,848 Robins July 6, 19151,180,460 Whitney et al Apr. 25, 1916 1,541,014 Wagner June 9, 19251,677,977 Menasco July 24, 1928 v1,719,050 Freeman July 2, 19292,011,858 House Aug. 20, 1935 2,289,276 Packer July 7, 1942 2,329,556Raabe Sept. 14, 1943 2,427,051 Goudreau Sept. 9, 1947

